Single Idea 19061

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / a. Types of explanation]

Full Idea

An explanation is often a deductive argument, with the fact needing explaining as its conclusion. ...But the conclusion is usually given in advance, and we may only believe the premisses because they plausibly explain the conclusion.

Gist of Idea

An explanation is often a deduction, but that may well beg the question

Source

Michael Dummett (The Justification of Deduction [1973], p.296)

Book Reference

Dummett,Michael: 'Truth and Other Enigmas' [Duckworth 1978], p.296


A Reaction

[compressed (Dummett's wordy prose cries out for it!)] I suppose this works better in mathematics, which is central to Dummett's interests. In the real world the puzzle is not usually logically implied by its explanation.